SB 249 
•S95 

Copy I 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
I 



020 948 163 7 



/ 



SB 249 
.S95 

ccpyi ANALYSIS 



OF THE 



COTTON PLANT AND SilD, 



WITH 



SUGGESTIONS AS TO MANUEES, &C. 



BY THOMAS J. SUMMER. 



COLUMBIA: 
ALLEN, M'CARTER & CO. 

CHARLESTON : 

JOHN RUSSELL. 

1848. 




Printed at the Office of the South CaroUnian, 



C^^V 






INTRODUCTOHY, &C 



The natural history of the Cotton Plant,* and improvement m 
its culture, in the Cotton growing States, are interesting subjects. 
Originally the production of the tropics, it has, in our country 
travelled far into the temperate region, and flourishes on a belt 
of several hundred miles wide; extending from Virginia along 
the Sea-coast, to our Western limits on the Gulf of Mexico. 
Congeniality of climate, seasons and soils, has carried the culti- 
vation of this Plant, which is not certainly ascertained to have 
been indiginous to the United States, much farther than it was 
at first expected it would ever be extended ; and it has become 
the staple of all those parts not actually mountainous in the 
Southern States. Whilst its culture has most rapidly advanced 
and increased in every section, the Planters of the old Cotton 
growing States, from the exhaustion of their soils, and the lack 
of proper systems of Rotation and Manuring, have been thrown 
in the back ground, in the scale of profitable production, bv 
their more favored rivals, the fortunate possessors of the virgin 
lands of the South-west. If this deficiency is ever to be reme- 
died—if the fertility of those soils worn out in the oft repeated 
production of Cotton, is ever to be restored, and permanently 
improved, for the future culture of this crop, or for other system? 

'German Kattunwolle, Baumwolle ; Dutch, Ketoen, Boomwol ; Dari=li. 
Bomald; Swedish, Bomull; Italian, Cotone, Bomhagia ; Spanish, Algodun ; 
Portuffue-e Algodno, Algodeiro ; Russian, Chlobts-chataza bumaga ; I\ih,~h, 
Bawelna ;' Georgian, Bomba, Bamby ; Latin, Gossypium; Greek, Bowbyx 
Yylon; Mongu], Kobuvg ; Hindoo, Ruhi ; Malay, iCapos ; Indian, A' 07^r7 ; 
Chinese Cay-Haung. Hoa-Mien. Skinner, the etymologist, says that CM'-y 
is so called from its similtude to the down which adheres to the qumce, mahs 
cydoniis, which the Italians call cotogni, and cotoqui manifestly a cydonis. 

Gossypium, or Cotton, a genus of the polyandria order, belongmg to the 
monoadelphia class of plants ; and in the natural method of ranking undti- the 
37th order, ColammiGTse.—EncyclopcBdia Britannia, vol. 8, p. 21. 



of tillage, it must be done under a proper understanding of what 
constituents are to be restored to the soil, to supply the places 
of those of which it has been robbed. How far, a correct Analysis 
of the Cotton Plant and Seed, will enable the present generation 
of Planters, to remedy the lack of fertility in their impoverished 
soils, and enhance their future productiveness for this crop, it is 
difl&cult to determine; but it is no matter of speculation, to 
assert, that it is essentially necessary for the improvement of the 
soil for Cereal crops, that the past industrious despoiling of the 
natural elements, should furnish a guide for their restoration. 
The analytical investigations made by the Author, and for their 
correctness receiving the sanction of Professor Von Liebig, the 
most celebrated Chemist of the age, and given to the world in ' 
their present shape, are not intended as the basis of a new 
theory for the production of the Cotton Plant, but merely as 
suggestive of aids, and by returning to the soil what has been 
taken from it, bring about a restoration of fertility, which will 
render its cultivation profitable to Agriculturists in any other 
marketable crops. When, however, we reflect, that of the One 
Thousand Million of pounds of Cotton, produced in the world, 
upwards of Five Hundred and Fifty Millions of pounds are 
grown in the United States, we readily see that the importance 
of this crop — swelling to this enormous amount since 1784, when 
it was doubted at Liverpool, that so much as eight bales could 
be produced in this country — demands all those scientific aids 
by which other nations have fostered their staple agricultural 
productions, and thereby contributed to National prosperity. 
England by her Commercial enterprize, assumed the pinnacle of 
national rank. The Cotton Plant, its production and adaptation 
to human wants, by manufacturing skill, will give the blood to 
invigorate our national prosperity. What a picture of prosperity 
would be presented, if we manufactured in South Carolina, all 
the Cotton grown in the State, and had sufficient commercial 
capital and enterprize, to concentrate the exportation and 
exchange of the manufactured material at our Queen City 
Charleston ? Added to this, how much more pleasant would be 
the prospect ahead, if the cultivation of this crop was so regulated, 
and carried out that i,t would fit the soil for the increased affcer- 
production of the grain crops — those crops so essential to the 
prosperity of the world. 



ANALYSIS, &C 



ANALYSIS OF THE ASH OF THE COTTON PLANT. 

Qualitative Analysis. — A part of the asb was taken and 
boiled with distilled water, then filtered, the filtrate acidulated 
with Nitric Acid, and then treated with Nitrate of Silver. 
(AgO, NO3 .) A white precipitate of Chloride of Silver, was 
formed, showing the presence of Chlorine. 

On adding Muriatic Acid, to another part of the ash, an eifer- 
vescence took place, showing the presence of Carbonic Acid. 

Another part of the ash was taken and dissolved in Muriatic 
Acid, and evaporated to dryness ; then moistened with Muriatic 
Acid, and digested with water — a residue consisting of Coal 
Sand and Silica, remained insoluble. The presence of Silicic 
Acid was proved, by boiling the residue with Potassa, (tree of 
Silicic Acid,) and evaporating the filtrate in the presence of 
Muriatic Acid, to dryness, then moistening with Muriatic Acid, 
and dissolving in water, the Silicic Acid remained insoluble, A 
portion of the liquid freed from Sand, Coal, and Silicic Acid, was 
nearly neutralised with Ammonia, when, upon the addition of 
Acetate of Soda, a white precipitate of Phosphate of Iron was 
formed 

To a part of the liquid filtered from this precipitate, Ammonia 
was added, which formed a white precijiitate, showing that all 
the Phosphoric Acid was not in combination with Iron. 

To another part of the liquid filtered from the precipitate of 
Phosphate of Iron, Oxalate of Ammonia was added, which formed 
a white precipitate of Oxalate of Lime. 

The liquid filtered from this precipitate, gave on the addition 
of Phosphate of Soda and Ammonia, a precipitate of Phosphate 
of Magnesia and Ammonia, showing the presence of Magnesia. 



6 

Another part of the liquid freed from Sand, Coal, and Silicic 
Acid, was boiled with an excess of Baryta water, and filtered. 
The excess of Barjtes in the filtrate, was removed by Carbonate 
of Ammonia and Ammonia, and filtered — the filtrate was 
evaporated to dryness, and dissolved in a small quantity of water. 
A part of this solution was treated with-Bi-Chloride of Platinum ; 
a yellow Crystaline precipitate was formed, showing the presence 
of Potassa. 

A part of the residue was tested with the blow-pipe for Soda; 
the presence of which was proved. 

A portion of the liquid freed from Sand and Silica, was treated 
with Chloride of Barium ; a white precipitate of Sulphate of 
Barytes was formed, showing the presence of Sulphuric Acid. 

Quantitative Analysis. — 6.181 grammes of the ash was 
digested with Muriatic Acid, and evaporated over a water bath 
to dryness. The residue was gently ignited, and moistened with 
Muriatic Acid, then let stand for half an hour, after which, it 
was digested with water, and filtered upon a weighed filter. 
The Coal, Sand, &c., remained upon the filter, and was washed 
out with boiling water, until, on evaporating a drop of the 
filtrate on a platina foil, no residue remained. 

The filter was now dried, and all the Sand, Coal, &c., were 
carefully separated, (in order not to damage the filter,) after 
w!ii 'h, the substance which was on the filter was boiled with 
Potassa in a platina basin over a water bath for one hour; then 
filtored upon the same filter, washed out with distilled water, and 
dried at 212°, until it remained at a constant weight. After 
deducting the weight of the filter, there remained, 0.621 grammes 
of Sand and Coal. 

The part soluble in Potassa, was mixed with Muriatic Acid, 
( HCl,) and evaporated over a water bath to dryness; then 
ignited, and moistened with Muriatic Acid, (HCl,) and dissolved 
in water, filtered and washed, then dried and burned. It 
weighed after burning, 0.40.3 grammes, Silicic Acid (Si02 .) 

The liquid filtered from the Sand and Silicic Acid, (measured 
in a graduated tube,) was found to contain 480 cubic Centimetres, 
which was divided into three equal parts of 160 cubic Centimetres 
each, = 2.060 grammes of the ash, for each 160 cubic Centimetres 
of the liquid. 

These three parts will be termed, A, B and C. 



In A, the Phosphate of Iron, Lime and Magnesia, were 
estimated. 

la B, the Sulphuric Acid, and the entire quantity of Phosphoric 
Acid. 

In C, the Alkalies. 

A. 

The liquid A, was nearly neutralised with Ammonia, then 
Acetate of Soda, and free Acetic Acid, were added. The 
precipitate was left standing for 24 hours, after which, it was 
filtered and washed out with boiling water, then dried and burned. 
It weighed 0.346 grammes, or, for the entire liquid, 1.038 
grammes of 2Fe2 O3 SPOj , or, 0.507 grammes of Fe^ O3 
(Oxide of Iron.) 

The liquid filtered from the precipitate of Phosphate of Iron, 
was treated with Oxalate of Ammonia. The precipitate of 
Oxalate of Lime, was filtered, washed, dried and burned. It 
weighed after burning, 0.643 grammes of Carbonate of Lime, 
(CaO.COa,) or for the entire liquid, 1.929 grammes, (CaO, CO2,) 
= 1.092 grammes Lime, (CaO ) 

The liquid filtered from the Oxalate of Lime, was evaporated 
over a water bath, to a smaller volume, then^'Phospbate of Soda 
and Ammonia, were added, and the precipitate left standing for 
two days, after which, it was filtered, and washed out with water 
containing one-eighth of Ammonia, and burned until it was white. 
It gave 0.301 grammes of 2MgO, PO5 , (Pyrophosphate of 
Magnesia,) or, for the entire liquid, "0.903 grammes = 0.330 
grammes MgO, (Magnesia.) 

B. 

The solution B, was precipitated while boiling with Chloride 
of Barium, and left standing on a sand bath for 24 hours, then 
filtered and washed with boiling water, dried, and burned. 
It gave 0.079 grammes Sulphate of Barytes, (BaO, SO3 ,) or, 
for the entire liquid, 0.237 grammes, (BaO, SO3 ,) = 0.081 
grammes Sulphuric Acid, (SO3 .) 

The liqaid filtered from the precipitate of BaO, SO3 , was 
mixed with per-chloride of Iron, and Acetate of Soda, and boiled 
for five minutes in a large flask ; then the precipitate of Phosphate 
of Iron, and Basic Acetate of Iron, was filtered while warm, 



8 1^ 

and washed with boiling water, until on evaporating a drop of 
the filtrate, there remained no residue. 

The precipitate was dissolved while moist, in as small a 
quantity of Muriatic Acid, as possible. Tartaric Acid and 
Ammonia, were now added in excess, when to the clear yellow 
coloured solution, a mixture of Sulphate of Magnesia and Chloride 
of Ammonia, was added, (to prevent a precipitate of Magnesia.) 
The precipitate was left standing for two days, after which, it j 
was filtered and washed out with water containing Ammonia, i 
When dried, burned and weighed, it gave 0.442 grammes of I 
2MgO, PO5 , or, for the entire liquid, 1.326 grammes of I 
2MgO, PO.5 .= 0.837 grammes Phosphoric Acid, (PO5 .) 

C. I 

Baryta water was added to this solution, until an Alkaline j 
re-action had taken place, then boiled and filtered. The excess of I 
Barytes in the filtrate, was removed with Carbonate of Ammonia 
and free Ammonia — the filtrate was evaporated over a watei 
bath to dryness, and ignited untU it was free from all Ammo- 
niacal Salts, then dissolved in water. Some Magnesia remaining \ 
insoluble, was filtered ofi", and the filtrate again evaporated ttiv 
dryness, and ignited, then weighed. It gave 0.770 grammes 
the Chlorides of the Alkalies, which is for the entire liquid, 2.31o 
grammes. These Alkalies were again dissolved in a small 
quantity of water, and the Potassa estimated with Bi-Chloride 
of Platinum, which gave, after being evaporated with Alcohol 
over a water bath, 2.356 grammes of Double Chloride of 
Potassium, and Chloride of Platinum, (KCl, PtCla ,) or, for 
the entire liquid, 7.068 grammes, (KCl, PtCla .) This repre- 
sents 2.157 grammes, Chloride of Potassium, (KCl,) or, 1.326 
grammes, Potassa, (KO.) 

There remains, consequently, after substracting the Chloride 
of Potassium, from the Chlorides of the Alkalies, as follows, the 
amount of Chloride of Sodium, which is estimated as loss, 
thus, 2.310 KCl, NaCl, — 2.157, KCl. = 0.153 (NaCl,) 
Chloride of Sodium. 

2.970 grammes of the ash, was boiled with distilled water, and 
filtered. The filtrate was acidulated with Nitric Acid, then 
precipitated with Nitrate of Silver. It gave 0.044 grammes 
Chloride of Silver, (AgCl.) or, 0.022 grammes Chlorine, (CI.) 



9 

Also 0.153 grammes NaCl,— 0.037 grammes, NaCl, = 0.116 
grammes Chloride of Sodium, (NaCl,) = 0.061 grammes Soda, 
(NaO.) 

1.066 grammes of the ash, gave 0.168 grammes Carbonic 
Acid, ( CO2 . ) The following is the Percentage of the constituents 
in 100 parts of the ash. 



Grammes found 


. 


Percentage. 


Silicic Acid, 


0.403 


6.50 


SiO,. 


Sand and Coal, 


0.621 


10.04 


Sand & Coal. 


Oxide of Iron, 


0.507 


8.20 


Fe^Oa. 


Oxide of Lime, 


1.092 


17.66 


CaO. 


Oxide of Magnesia, 


0.330 


5.33 


MgO. 


Sulphuric Acid, 


0.081 


1.31 


SO3. 


Phosphoric Acid, 


0.837 


13.37 


POs. 


Potassa, 


1.362 


22.01 


KO. 


Soda, 


0.061 


0.99 


NaO. 


Chloride of Sodium, 


0.037 


0.05 


NaCl. 


Carbonic Acid, 


0.168 


15.72 


CO2. 



101.19 

ANALYSIS OF THE ASH OF COTTON SEED. 

Preparation of the Ash. — The seed were burned in a Hessian 
Crucible, with a Muffle. Only a slight red heat, was necessary 
to burn them perfectly white. 

For estimating the amount of water, 6.406 grammes of the 
seed were taken and dried, at 212*, until they remained at a 
constant weight. They gave 0.646 grammes water, = 10.08 
p.c. — in 100 parts of the seed. 

Estimation of the Ash. — The seed were dried until they 
remained at a constant weight, then burned in a Platina Crucible. 
6.587 grammes of the dried seed, gave 0.237 grammes Ash — 
equal 3,8 per cent Ash, in 100 parts of the dried seed. 

The qualitative analysis, showed, that all the constituents 
were present, which were in the Ash of the plant, with the 
exception of Carbonic Acid. 

The quantitative analysis, was carried out similar to that of 
the Ash of the plant, heretofore described. 

The following are the results — 1.882 grammes of the Ash 
was used. 



10 



Found. 




Per Cent. 


Phosphoric Acid, 


0.667 


35 43 


PO5. 


Oxide of Iron, 


0.075 


3.43 


Fe^ O3 . 


Coal, 


0.020 


105 


Coal. 


Sulphuric Acid, 


0.060 


3.19 


SO3. 


Oxide of Lime, 


0.204 


10 88 


CaO. 


Oxide of Magnesia, 


200 


10.61 


MgO. 


Potassa, 


0.523 


27.82 


KO. 


Soda, 


0.051 


2.75 


NaO. 


Silicic Acid, 




Trace. 


Loss and Chlorine, 




4.84 





100.00 



SUGGESTIVE KE MARKS 



On examining the foregoing Analysis of the Cotton Seed, we 
see that they abound in the Phosphates and Alkalies. Drs. 
Will and Fresenius, in their Analysis of the Cereal grains, 
show that Wheat also abounds largely in these constituents. 

In order to enable the reader to make the comparison, we 
give the Analysis of Red and White Wheat, as published by 
them. It is as follows : 





Red. 


White. 


Potass 


20.80 
15.01 
1.83 
9.12 
1.29 
46.91 
0.15 
4.89 


30.17 


Soda 




X/ime ••.......«.. 


2.76 


Magnesia 


12.08 


Peroxide of Iron 


0.28 


Phosphoric Acid , 


43.89 


Silica 




Charcoal and Sand 


9.03 








100.00 


98.21 



11 

All these constituents being derived directly from the soil, 
plainly indicate the reasons, why our lands in the k^outh are so 
easily exhausted. The crops extensively cultivated here, all 
require in a great measure, the same food from the soil, and 
hence soils which will not produce Cotton, are alike incapable 
of producing the Cereal crops. The great benefit derived from 
the application of Cotton Seed as a manure to these crops, is 
accounted for from the same causes ; an abundance of Phosphates 
being given in their application to the soil. 

FALLOWING. 

A System of tillage, which carries away annually so large a 
proportion of these natural essentials to vegetation, and which 
provides no means of returning them, must necessarily impoverish 
any soil. A fixed principle in the Agriculture of all countries 
where the prosperity of the future has at all been regarded, has 
been, the gradual but certain improvement of the soil. This is 
necessary for the support of increased population, and in the 
Slave States, where there has been such an extraordinary and 
rapid increase of the laboring population, it should never be lost 
sight of. The intensity of our Southern sun- shine, prevents in 
a great measure, the annual coat of grass which supplies vege- 
table matter to the soil in Northern climates, and the never- 
ending occupation of the soils, by our system of culture, prevents 
the natural improvement which in other countries is carried out 
by Fallowing. We are well aware, that Fallowing is generally 
objected to in the South, and we think where Fallow is converted 
into pasture land, and taxed during the whole season for the 
production of herbage to sustain greedy herds, the system might 
well come into disrepute. Planters too, object to Fallowing, and 
say they have not land enough to allow one-half to lie idle, &c., 
but reason and justice to the noble occupation of Agriculture, 
allows this objection to pass unheeded ; and its fallacy is proven 
by the desert wastes of " Old Fields," an agricultural feature 
only common to the New World, and we blush to say it, only 
visible to the b'outhern or Planting States. In Europe, where 
arable soil compared to population, is a thousand times scarcer 
than in the Southern States, the Agriculturists find Fallowing a 
remunerating system. It is but little understood in American 
Agriculture, and we may be pardoned for giving the proper details 



12 

for Fallowing, believing it to be the cheapest manner of reno- 
vating our soils. A field intended for Fallow, should be deeply 
ploughed in mid-winter — the deeper the ploughing, the better. 
This is simple preparation, but nevertheless, necessary ; and 
above all things, keep every description of Stock off the field. 
The porousness of the Soil, will facilitate the assimilation of the 
natural Salts of the earth, and atmospheric action, with the 
dissolving influence of the rains, will generally bring to the aid 
of the succeeding crop, a sufficient quantity of these for its 
production. Late in Autumn the herbage should be turned 
under. This process exerts Chemical and natural influence 
beneficial to the Soil — First : as by decomposition of vege- 
table matter Carbonic Acid is produced, which is known to 
act as a powerful solvent of Phosphated Alkalies — Secondly : 
those portions of the grass and weeds, not readily decomposable, 
when admixed with the soil, gives it that friability so necessary 
to easy tillage, and thus aids the Agriculturist in his future 
labors. A bastard system of Fallowing, might, by the aid of the 
Black and Red Tory Pea, be judiciously adopted in the Cotton 
growing States. Owing to their imperviousness to wet, they can 
be sown in mid-winter, and vegetating in the Spring, without the 
aid of cultivation, generally make upon ordinarily productive land 
asufficient crop to protect it from the sun in Summer, and smother 
out those weeds which are such a pest to cultivated crops. The 
constituents of the Indian Pea — known to be in a great measure 
derived from the atmosphere — would in all probability, furnish a 
better green crop for subversion, than the natural grasses and 
weeds. Judicious Fallowing, is therefore, in our opinion the 
cheapest, and by far the easiest mode of renovating and preserving 
the productiveness of our soils, and if adopted and regularly 
persevered in, would heighten both the production and value of 
our Cotton lands. 

COMPOST MANURE. 

Much may be effected in reclaiming worn out Cotton lands, 
by a good system of Compost Manuring ; the benefits of which 
have been forced upon our Agriculturists by the gradual accumu- 
lation of animal manures, and the decomposition of wasted vege- 
table matter, in and around their barn-yards. It is a system 
which should be so generally understood and practised, that we 



13 

deem it unnecessary to make, other, than a few remarks 
respecting the increase of this manure and its ap23lication. It 
is a mistaken idea, that the Planter gains by hauling into his 
barn-yard, the stalks from his Corn and Cotton fields, in order 
to convert them into compost manure. Their elements would 
be returned to the soil, by the certain law of vegetable decom- 
position, if suiTered to remain on the fields, and their place in the 
compost heap can be supplied easily, by litter and leaves from 
the forests, grasses, weeds, and muck from the marshes, ditches, 
and fence rows on the farm. Weeds, abounding in the alkalies, 
furnish profitable vegetable matter for composting. In addition 
to these, we have the rotten wood and forest leaves, which are 
so abundant on all hands. Muck or peat, being decayed vege- 
table matter in mass, in this concentrated form contains a large 
amount of Phosphates and Alkalies — and when mingled with 
the droppings of animals, forms a compost highly retentive of 
substances thus imparted, which it yields most readily to the 
growing crops to which it is applied. Compost when applied in 
winter, does not require to be thoroughly decomposed, but when, 
as is the case on crops where it is applied in the Spring, and its 
elements are demanded immediately by the young plants, its 
decomposition should be perfect. The. compost heap should be 
protected from the rains, in order to prevent those salts rendered 
soluble by moisture, from being washed away. It would add 
much to the value of compost manure, if the water collecting on 
the roofs of farm buildings, was carried in gutters entirely beyond 
the yard, and not allowed to flow through it, which would be 
greatly facilitated by a concentration of farm buildings. Every 
domestic animal if properly confined and quartered, when not in 
use or grazing, woidd amply repay for the trouble in attending 
to them, and the filth from the wash house, stercorary, pig-pen, 
hen house, and pigeon cote, so much neglected amongst us, 
would if properly hoarded, furnish most valuable ingredients to 
the heap. A concentration of all that is essential to the 
production of our cultivated plants, being found in the component 
parts of this fertilizer — derivable from the Cereal food consumed 
by animals, and the Phosphate and Alkaline properties of the 
weeds, grasses, &c,, makes it at once, the best and cheapest 
form of applying vegetable and animal manures for the immediate 
production of a crop, at the command of our Planters. The 



14 

quantity might be increased on every plantation in the State, to 
a degree which would make its manufacture profitable. This, 
however, will never be done until fewer acres are planted, which 
will enable them to manure more land. 

BONE MANURE. 

Bones, according to Berzilius, contain 55 p. c, of the Phos- 
phates of Lime and Magnesia. The relative value of the bones 
of different animals varies in their constituents, and also from 
the difference in age, their value being increased with years. 
The bones upon every farm, would furnish, if preserved and 
appHad, a considerable amount of the best and most durable 
fertilizer, which is peculiarly adapted to the production of the 
Cotton crop. This is proven by the identity of the constituents 
which compose bones, and are found in the Cotton Plant. The 
Planter in the marl regions, especially where fossil bones and 
shells abound, has an abundant supply of native phosphate of 
lime, which only reqnires pulverization, to render it almost as 
useful as the recent bones. Phosphates in the bones comprise 
their chief value, which is shown by the fact, that they make a 
fertilizer equally as valuable, after the fatty mattter has been 
extracted by soap boilers, as before — hence, all old bones might 
be rendered valuable if properly applied, Guano, the most 
powerful fertilizer applicable to husbandry, being the ordure of 
sea-birds, it is known, derives its great value from the amount 
of bone earth it contains. We therefore regard the annual 
waste of bones on plantations in the South, where more^ animal 
food is consumed than by any other people in the worhr, as the 
most suicidal disregard of that economy, which has furnished the 
axiom to Agriculturists — ''that Manure is wealth." Many 
arguments abound, to favor the adoption of Bones as Manure 
amongst us. One is, they can easily be preserved, and it only 
requires the same labor to do this, that it does to throw them 
away. Another argument in their favor is, that a laborer in a 
sack, can transport to a distant field, bone manure which will 
furnish more constituents to the crop, than can be concentrated 
in a four horse load of the best stable dung, or compost manure — 
still another, is the little labor it requires to apply them to the 
soil. The great secret of applying bones to the soil, is found in 
pulverizing them into as finely seperated particles as possible, 



15 

which fits them for the operation of speedy atmospheric influ- 
ence — in order that their constituents may be taken up rapidly 
by the yjlants. Grinding, crushing and burning, are the usual 
modes, but in order to fit the crushed bones or bone ashes, for 
the greatest production. Professor Von Liebig, recommends the 
following process. Pour over the crushed bones or bone ashes, 
half their weight of Sulphuric Acid, diluted with four parts of 
water, and after they have been digested for twenty-four hours, 
add one hundred parts of water — sprinkle this mixture over the 
field immediately before ploughing. By its action in a few seconds, 
the free acids uniting with the bases contained in the earth, a 
neutral salt is formed, in a very fine state of division. Experiments 
instituted on soils, for the purpose of ascertaining the action of 
manure prepared in this manner, have distinctly shown that neither 
grain, nor kitchen garden plants, sufi"er injurious eff"ects in conse- 
quence, but that, on the contrary, they thrive with much more 
vigor after its application. (^Vide Von Liehig's Organic 
Chemistry, American Edition, p. 230.) 

Another theory of application, by the great French Chemist, 
M. Dumas, the substance of which we give from his article 
(contained in Comptes Rendeus, Nov. 30, 1846, p. 1018,) 
" On the Manner in which Phosphate of Lime enters Organized 
Beings,'^ is interesting. He remarks, that the Phosphate of 
Lime being insoluble m water, nevertheless penetrates, and 
is deposited in their structure, and bones containing it are slowly 
disaggregated by the soil, and disappear after a time, under the 
influenc'.e of the rains. The investigations of M. Dumas discov- 
ered t.-o causes producing these effects — the one acting rarely 
and feebly — the other constantly, and with great intensity, 

The first resides in a property possessed by Sal-ammoniac, 
which facilitates the solution of Phosphahate of Lime. Though 
this salt dissolves a noteable quantity, and exists in all running 
waters — yet, this slight proportion renders its action in this 
respect, inconsiderable. 

The second is found in the action of Carbonic Acid ; and in 
this, the true solvent of Phosphate of Lime, is to be found — 
for water impregnated with Carbonic Acid dissolves large quan- 
tities of Phosphate of Lime. M. M. Berzilius and Thenard, 
had remarked the alkalies and ebbulition, by driving off, or neu- 
tralizing the Carbonic Acid, which precipitated it. 



16 

M. Ddmas, believing the action of Carbonic Acid to be such 
as above stated, did not doubt the efiect it would produce on the 
bones themselves. He therefore introduced plates of ivory into 
bottles of Seltzer water, (which contains a great deal of Carbonic 
Acid,) and they were as much softened in twenty-four hours, as 
if acted on by dilute Hydro- Chloric Acid, which is also a 
powerful solvent of Phosphate of Lime. The Seltzer water was 
found loaded with Phosphate of Lime, and the experiment 
proved the action of Carbonic Acid as its solvent, to be both 
rapid and certain. I am sure this discovery will be of importance 
to the Agricultural world. 

I would call the attention of physiologists to this property in 
Carbonic Acid, as it satisfactorily explains, the transformation 
of the Phosphate of Lime into plants. Of course, it would not be 
practicable to dissolve the Phosphate of Lime, by the aid of 
Seltzer water, but the preparation of bone ashes by its known 
and powerful constituent, might be rendered available in the 
following manner. Where bone powder or ashes, is intended 
for manuring soil destitute of vegetable matter, let them be mixed 
with leaves or other organic matter, and its decomposition with 
the aid of the rains and atmospherical influence, wiU create a 
sufficient quantity of Carbonic Acid to assimulate the Phosphates 
in such a form, that they wUl be readily taken up by the organism 
of the plants. 

How easily could a Planter manure a few acres of Cotton 
with bone powder or ashes ? When all the bones are hoarded 
as gold, and their true value known, they will be appreciated. 
Then a bone mill for crushing, and simple apparatus for their 
chemical reduction, will be as essential to producing the crop, 
as a grinding mill is, to prepare grain for the food of man. 

WOOD ASHES, 

Containing Phosphates and Alkalies, to a considerable extent, 
where they abound, may be used advantageously as a manure 
for Cotton. 

LIME, 

Being useful in decomposing and ameliorating adhesive soils, 
might be profitably employed in the permanent improvement of 
Cottonlands. 



17 

Common Potter's Clay, diffused through water and added to milk 
of Lime, thickens immediately upon mixing, and if the mixture be 
kept for some months, and an acid be added, the clay becomes 
gelatinous, which is the effect of the admixture of the Lime. 
The Lime in combining with the elements of the clay liquefies it, 
and what is more remarkable, liberates the greater portion of its 
alkalies. These interesting facts, so important to the scientific 
world, were first observed by M. Fdchs, at Munich, and led to the 
explanation of the eifects of Caustic Lime upon the soil, which 
furnishes the Agriculturist with an invaluable means of opening 
it, and setting free its alkalies — substances so indispensable to 
the production of his crops. (For further facts concerning 
Lime, and its application to Agriculture, see Liebig's Organic 
Chemistry, which should be in the hands of every one.) The 
Linie lands of the West producing abundant crops of Cotton, so 
long as furnished with vegetable matter, shows that Lims alone, 
upon exhausted soils would prove a doubtful aid. 

We could add, suggestion after suggestion, relative to the aids 
to be applied to the production of Cotton, upon exhausted soils, 
but these being the most important, v/e shall dispense with the 
boundless materials which lie abundantly around us, and only 
need transporting to our fields in order to benefit them. It was 
a matter of surprise to Professor Von Liebig, that any soil not 
furnished by artificial means with the preponderating constituents 
of the Cotton Plant and Cotton Seed, should produce a crop 
abounding in the Phosphates. This leads me to further inves- 
tigations, and a rich field of research still lies unexplored, in 
the analytical examination of the Cotton Soils of the South 
and West. 



THE END. 



ANALYSIS 



OF THE 



COTTON PLANT AND SEP, 



AVITH 



SUGGESTIONS AS TO MANURES, &C. 



BY THOMAS J. SUMMER 



COLUMBIA: 

ALLEN, M'CARTER & CO 

CHARLESTON : 

JOHN RUSSELL. 

1848. 



LIBRARY OF CONGREg^ 



020 948 163 7 



